The Spectrum Vol. 70 No. 12

VOL. 70 NO. 12 | DECEMBER 8, 2021

UB ‘aware’ of CVS closure, ‘reviewing’ alternative retail options

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Students return to the physical stage for ‘Red Bike’

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SUNY administration has discussed possible COVID-19 booster shot mandate, will follow federal guidelines UB continues to “strongly encourage” booster shots, offer on-campus vaccination clinics GRANT ASHLEY SENIOR NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

SUNY and UB will continue to recommend, but not require, booster shots for students, faculty and staff — at least for now.

SUNY and UB officials have been discussing and planning for a potential booster mandate, UB spokesperson Cory Nealon and SUNY spokesperson Jackie Orchard said.

SUNY will continue to follow federal and state guidelines from the FDA, CDC and New York State Department of Health regarding a booster mandate, Orchard said. For instance, as per comments from Orchard and a July memo from SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras, if the federal government changes the definition of “fully vaccinated” to only include those who’ve received a booster shot, SUNY will change its definition accordingly.

In the meantime, SUNY will work with all its campuses to implement its booster education and awareness program, which includes a social media strategy and student outreach efforts, according to Orchard.

“From day one, SUNY has been leading the way in COVID-19 vaccination efforts to ensure our students, faculty and staff have the safest learning environment possible,” Orchard said. “Vaccinating the community against COVID-19 remains the most effective way to ensure a safe on-campus environment for all, and our

policies have evolved based on the latest science, data and information available.”

A booster mandate would come from SUNY, not UB, UB spokesperson John DellaContrada said.

But in an effort to increase booster vaccination rates in the absence of a mandate, “UB leadership [and University Communications] have developed messaging urging UB students, faculty and staff to get the booster and explaining the protective benefits of getting a booster shot,” Nealon said.

Thomas Russo, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the UB Department of Medicine and member of the university’s Health Guidelines Committee, said he has “no idea” if SUNY will implement a booster mandate. Still, he said, UB community members should get their booster shots as soon as possible because their level of immunity will increase by “tenfold or greater,” but only after two weeks.

“Unfortunately there are still young healthy people who — for reasons that we don’t understand, likely some combination of genetics and maybe a huge exposure [to COVID-19] — do poorly and end up in the hospital or worse,” Russo said. “A booster shot is going to minimize those chances, there’s no question about it.”

A booster shot also prevents students from transmitting COVID-19 to those around them and from developing minor symptoms like “loss of taste or smell, headaches, fatigue, fever, muscle aches, shortness of breath [and] brain fog,” Russo said.

“How would you like to have any one of those symptoms, furthermore, a combination of those symptoms, and now you’ve

got to write your term paper, your exams and all that?” Russo said. “And sometimes these symptoms can last weeks or months and really affect your daily life.”

While he believes all students should get a booster shot, those who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine are especially at risk without one, Russo said. “[Boosters] are really important if you got Johnson & Johnson because the degree of protection with Johnson & Johnson is significantly lower, not only for any sort of infection, but also for hospitalizations and more serious disease, relative to Moderna and Pfizer,” Russo said. “And I would strongly recommend getting an RNA [booster] vaccine — a Moderna or Pfizer — if you got Johnson & Johnson, because that generates a much higher level of antibodies than if you get two [doses of] Johnson & Johnson.”

The CDC expanded booster eligibility late last month to include anyone older than 18 who completed a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series more than six months prior. That waiting period drops to two months for those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Through a partnership with a local pharmacy, UB is offering booster shots on a walk-in basis at weekly clinics on each of the university’s three campuses. The clinics will only operate through Dec. 16, but “UB is in discussions about extending the clinics into next semester,” Nealon said.

“The university is very pleased that many members of the UB community have utilized these clinics,” Nealon said.

SEE BOOSTERS PAGE 2

Paul Tesluk to step down as School of Management dean Tesluk will return to faculty position, UB will commence search for successor KYLE NGUYEN ASST. NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

Paul Tesluk will step down as dean of UB’s School of Management by the end of the academic year, the university announced in late November. Tesluk will reprise a faculty position as the Donald S. Carmichael Professor of Organizational Behavior in UB’s Department of Organization and Human Resources.

“Dean Tesluk has had a significant impact on the School of Management and UB, and established a solid foundation for future success. We are grateful to Dean Tesluk for his continued commitment to the school and university,” Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs A. Scott Weber said in a statement.

Tesluk came to UB from the University of Maryland, College Park as Donald S. Carmichael Professor of Organizational Behavior in 2011, and was appointed interim dean in 2015 before fully transitioning into the post in 2016.

He also served as chair of the Department of Organization and Human Resources and as academic director of the school’s Center for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness (CLOE) for two years.

Since his appointment in 2016, Tes-

luk has led the School of Management through a period of sustained success.

The school places in the top 10% nationally in various school and MBA rankings

by Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report.

In the most recent ranking by Bloomberg Businessweek, the school vaulted 37 spots to No. 64. The ranking authority also placed UB’s School of Management above the likes of NYU, Duke and Harvard in specific metrics such as learning components and diversity.

Tesluk presided over a comprehensive strategic effort emphasizing five key initiatives: leadership, entrepreneurship, health care management, social innovation and global programs.

“I am so grateful to our faculty and staff

for all their efforts, as well as our alumni and many external partners in the UB, business and global communities,” Tesluk said in a statement. “We have accomplished a tremendous amount as a School of Management community, and it would not have been possible without the collaborative spirit that has bound us all together. These collaborations have established a foundation that leaves the school wellpositioned to continue its ascent.”

The university will commence a search for Tesluk’s replacement by the end of this semester. Plans for new leadership are slated to arrive before the end of the spring 2022 semester.

Email: kyle.nguyen@ubspectrum.com

Courtesy of University Communications Paul Tesluk is stepping down as the dean of the School of Management at the end of the semester.

SUNY redtapes study abroad programs

UB still hopes to send students to Japan and Korea next semester JULIE FREY ASST. NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

Over a year-and-a-half after 10 UB students studying abroad in Italy returned home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, SUNY is continuing to uphold its strict criteria blocking students from studying abroad, despite other institutions resuming their programs.

Adam Rubin, assistant vice provost and director of education abroad, came to UB in September and, since then, has lobbied SUNY to resume its study abroad programs. He says the main blockade to resuming study abroad programming is the governor’s office.

“In the spring of 2020 there was this new policy that was put in place by the governor’s office at the time that said that there could be no undergraduate international travel activities for SUNY, which stayed in place until recently,” Rubin said.

“What has happened since the early spring of this year was SUNY Global [Center] working with different senior international folks across the [SUNY] campuses to come up with a relaunch proposal plan, and it was designed to say we want to reopen study abroad for SUNY, we want to do so with intentionality, doing it very carefully.”

Rubin says application deadlines vary across programs but are typically in early October for programs beginning in the spring semester. He recommended prior to SUNY’s relaunch plan that students hold off on paying deposits until SUNY released an updated policy, but maintained that programs would move forward.

SUNY settled on a revised version of the original plan submitted by its global and international education professionals, which included additional insurance policy requirements on top of already existing ones and added other policies which Rubin says made the policy “very bad.”

Currently, UB is planning to send students abroad to Korea and Japan in the spring semester, but the university is apprehensive in light of the Omnicron variant and changing guidance.

Neighboring school systems, like Penn State and Ohio State, have resumed their study abroad programs. Penn State even created multiple scholarship funds to make studying abroad more accessible to students.

SUNY does not allow stateside students to travel internationally, but it allows exchange students to come to New York.

Rhea Kalidindi, a communication major from the UB Singapore campus, says she’s finishing her senior year in Buffalo as an exchange student.

“I was studying in Singapore as a double major,” Kalindindi said. “Because of COVID-19, our programs were diminishing, the professors were not able to travel. So they asked me if I wanted to go to UB’s [Buffalo campus]... So I said fine, and then I went through this excruciating visa process. Now I’m here.”

According to UB’s Study Abroad office, the university hosts 27 students on study SEE STUDY ABROAD PAGE 7

NEWS

2 | Wednesday, December 8 2021 BOOSTERS FROM PAGE 1

The university did not have “firm data” regarding how many shots on-campus clinics administered.

Anyone who is eligible for a booster shot, whether affiliated with UB or not, can get one at the state-run vaccine clinic at Harriman Hall on South Campus. That clinic “will continue to be open for the foreseeable future,” Nealon said.

Approximately 99% of UB students completed a vaccine series. As of late September, 578 students were exempt for religious or medical reasons, but that number has likely decreased as some students may have gotten vaccinated over the course of the semester, DellaContrada said.

But neither the university nor SUNY have kept track of how many students have received their booster shots.

“Because boosters are not a SUNY requirement, UB does not have official data to share at this point,” Nealon said.

SUNY enabled individual campuses to submit data regarding the portion of students who received booster shots on Nov. 15 and expects to get that data soon, according to Orchard.

At the time of publication, UB has 93 positive cases and a 2.14% positivity rate based on a 14-day rolling average, according to SUNY’s COVID-19 Tracker. The university’s positivity rate is much lower than Erie County’s, which sits at 11% based on a 14-day rolling average, according to The New York Times.

Erie County recently reimposed an indoor mask mandate in late November due to its caseload, according to WKBW. The comparatively low positivity rate “is due to the overwhelming majority of students and employees being fully vaccinated, and their adherence to UB’s health and safety guidelines,” Nealon said.

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But the recently discovered Omicron variant is the “wild card” at play in the discussions surrounding booster mandates, Russo said.

First detected in South Africa in late November, the Omicron variant has infected people in at least 50 countries and 19 U.S. states and has become the dominant strain in southern Africa, according to CNBC. Little is known about the variant so far, but Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH, said Omicron appears to be more transmissible but less severe, according to the BBC. “UB officials are continuously monitoring all aspects of the pandemic, including new variants such as Omicron,” Nealon said. “At this time, UB has not altered its health and safety guidelines in response to the Omicron variant but we continue to closely monitor the variant and adjust as needed and as new guidelines are recommended or required by health officials and SUNY. “In the meantime, the university strongly encourages all members of the UB community to remain vigilant by continuing to follow best practices, such as masking while inside, practicing good hygiene, getting vaccinated and getting a booster shot when eligible.”

SUNY will continue to work with its own experts and the state health department to determine if the new variant will make policy changes necessary, according to Orchard.

While over 1,100 U.S. colleges and universities have required vaccination against COVID-19, very few have required booster shots so far, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Wesleyan University, Syracuse University and Smith College, all private institutions, are among the first to mandate booster shots.

Email: grant.ashley@ubspectrum.com

Paolo Blanchi / The Spectrum Disobeying a Stop sign was the most common violation ticketed by UPD from 2020-2021, with 88 tickets

In-person and remote classes will be UPD hopes to create comprehensive canceled in the event of a snow day dataset for traffic stops Officials say professors may only provide asynchronous class materials if classes are cancelled MATTHEW SZCZEPANIAK

NATALIE DOLLER

STAFF WRITER

UB would cancel all classes — regardless of class format — in the event of a snow day, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Graham Hammill announced in a memo last week.

Class materials may still be provided to students, including pre-recorded lectures, so long as that material is provided asynchronously. Hammill’s announcement covers all class formats, including in-person, remote and hybrid courses.

Online classes will also be canceled due to potential power and internet outages, but material has been provided for teaching staff to maintain instructional continuity should the need arise, UB officials say.

This news comes after some faculty members were concerned that UB’s plans for inclement weather weren’t clear.

“A lot of people raised concerns about this last semester,” Mitchell Mockerman, a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of History, said. “It seems like a good, fair thing to do.”

According to UB’s Adverse Weather Operations Policy, UB’s Emergency Planning Oversight Committee is respon-

University Police only notes driver demographics when a person is arrested, not stopped ASST. NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

sible for making recommendations based on “information issued by the National Weather Service Buffalo Office, current and expected campus conditions and all scheduled classes, events and activities.”

With input from the Emergency Planning Oversight Committee, the policy states that “the president or designee may make a decision to change scheduled operations resulting in class cancellations, class delays, an early departure or a closing.”

However, the policy also states “only the governor can officially declare that the University at Buffalo is closed or direct early departure.”

Cancellations or delays will be announced with “sufficient time to notify the campus community” via UB Alert, campus email, and the UB homepage, emergency page, MyUB and UBNow, according to the policy.

Cancellations and delays will be made before 5:30 a.m. for daytime classes and events and before 3 p.m. for classes and events scheduled for after 5 p.m.

Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Tori Evans / The Spectrum Geese waddle through the Buffalo snow in February.

With a renewed national conversation surrounding the equity of traffic stops and how they can disproportionately impact members of the BIPOC community, UB Deputy Chief of Police Joshua Sticht said in an interview with the The Spectrum that he is pushing for Erie County to create more comprehensive datasets that would allow UPD to track the race, gender and age of the drivers officers stop on the road.

Currently, these data points are only noted in UPD records when a person is arrested, not stopped.

“We really want us to get that kind of granular data about everything our officers do. And that’s, that’s where we are. We’ve made the request and it’s low on the pile [for Erie County],” Sticht said. “When we have special requests that we want [from the county] like a custom report like that, we’re kind of at the bottom because we’re a smaller department.”

UPD doesn’t note the demographics of the people it stops, but it does release data on location, license status and type of stop.

According to traffic stop data provided

by UPD, the three most common traffic violations on UB’s campuses are: running stop signs, driving with a suspended license and driving without a valid registration. Those accounted for 15%, 6% and 5.8%, respectively, of the 578 tickets issued in 2021.

Other notable infractions like distracted driving and DUIs accounted for 5.3% and 2% of the summons issued, respectively.

Of the 12 DUIs reported, three of the tickets were charged to underage students who were driving under the influence of alcohol.

The most common speed traps include the John James Audubon Parkway, Main

Street and Bailey Avenue.

Despite issuing 578 traffic violation summons in the past year, UPD does not see a cent of ticket revenue.

Instead of ticket revenue going to the university, Sticht says that fines are paid to the town or municipality that the infraction was recorded in. So a ticket issued on North Campus is paid to the Town of Amherst, but a ticket issued on the Downtown Campus is paid to the City of Buffalo. That is very different from the majority of police departments, which use ticket fines to fund large portions of their town municipalities.

UPD posts officers at different locations based on the department’s discretion and input from the UB community, Sticht says.

This practice of what Sticht calls “targeted enforcement” means that police cars are placed in the areas that UPD or members of the UB community deem “unsafe.”

But Sticht emphasized the five-lane intersections at the Flint and Sweethome Road entrances as the most dangerous locations on campus. He says this is where he has seen the most collisions.

Email: natalie.doller@ubspectrum.com

Tori Evans / The Spectrum UB Deputy Chief of Police Joshua Sticht wants Erie County to create a dataset that would allow UPD to track the race, gender and age of the drivers officers stop on the road.

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OPINION

Wednesday, December 8 2021 | 3

An argument against laziness Why you should cut yourself — and others, too — some slack

COURTNEY JACKSON STAFF WRITER

In the world’s eyes, I am lazy.

In the early days of my college experience, I would end each night the same way: staring blankly through my brightly lit laptop screen. Although “The Office,” a light-hearted comedy, would be playing on my screen, all I could see were the emotions that had spilled out onto my keyboard.

Despite my dismal mental state, I still felt lazy. Only a lazy person would sit in bed all day watching Netflix when they have papers to write… right?

I’d know by my slight migraine that my glassy eyes were reddening. I wouldn’t

need my Apple Watch’s worried “high heart rate after period of rest” notification to tell me that my breath was heaving out in hot, painful huffs and my heart was beating at the speed of a hummingbird’s wings in flight.

My inner dialogue would scream, “Why can’t I stop being so goddamn lazy?!”

As it turns out, I do not simply sit in my room rewatching every episode of “The Office,” “Gilmore Girls” and “Stranger Things” throughout the semester because I am lazy.

In fact, I have learned that I am not lazy at all.

I am coping.

Despite living in a society where mental health struggles are no longer taboo, I used to feel as though I was being held to a standard I could never reach.

I found myself feeling trapped. .I would look in the mirror and find myself staring into the eyes of my greatest enemy.

A poisonous voice inside of me injected me with its venom, soaking it into my bones and head, leaving me feeling utterly exhausted by the end of the day.

I was fighting a mental battle that only I could see.

My sole outlet was the comedic shows

that would distract me from reality, concealing my anxiety like a blanket of snow.

I was, and still am, in a constant battle with my anxiety.

I felt as though I was not living as a person should. I would see the world around me continuing to spin on its axis, while I sat in place with a computer on my lap and a blanket wrapped over my shoulders. At times, engaging with this coping mechanism was the best I could do. I believed that the world would see me as lazy, even though I was trying my hardest. I felt like my hardest was not good enough.

Sometimes my “hardest” looks like others’ laziness.

But I have gained valuable perspective on my “laziness.”

I have learned that others can’t see the battles you fight in your mind. All they see are your actions. They may judge you based on how you act and deem you to be lazy, not realizing that sometimes the choices you make aren’t choices at all.

They are often the result of a body caught in its own crossfire.

When we think of laziness, we usually imagine someone who watches Netflix all day, procrastinates on their schoolwork, takes an inappropriate amount of naps

and lives a sedentary lifestyle. These societal constructs of laziness are often reflections of a mental struggle. At times, they are the coping mechanisms we use, the sword we clench in our fists to fight the war waging in our minds.

Perhaps there is no such thing as laziness, but instead the socially constructed view of abnormal behavior that sets you back in life. The word “lazy” itself does nothing but provide a method to describe someone who is struggling — while adding a negative connotation to push them down even further when they are already at a low.

I refuse to be labeled as “lazy,” just because the world cannot see the battle I am fighting.

Mental health is complicated. You don’t have to be a psychology major to understand that. Our mental health is an intangible collection of memories from our past, our present and worries about an unknown future, all wrapped up in our own self-doubt.

It cannot be defined by one word.

It especially cannot be determined to be “laziness.”

Email: opinion@ubspectrum.com

Young Dolph is not ‘just another dead rapper’ “Your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper”

ALEX FALTER SENIOR ARTS EDITOR

“Rip Young Dolph.”

That is what flashed across my phone screen last week.

It was a text from a friend; ambiguous for others, sure, but not for me.

I froze..

My mind raced, hoping my friend was being metaphorical. Maybe Dolph had been canceled?

But as I searched up his name, tweets from just seconds earlier confirmed my greatest fear: Young Dolph was dead.

Adding on to the numerous recent deaths of rap-industry giants, Dolph was notably more under-the-radar than other recent fallen artists. But this fact alone makes his death all the more heartbreak-

ing.

One day earlier, a friend told me the late Memphis rapper was “old.”

Yes, Dolph outlived many of his peers, but how can we, as a society, call 36 years old — old ?

Do Black rappers really have such a low life expectancy?

“It’s his fault, he rapped about violence, so he should have died by violence,” I heard from another friend. Some questioned why he never left his Tennessee hometown, citing how dangerous it is for someone of his notoriety to stay in a location where so many know his business.

But Dolph was far from a careless thug.

He stayed to support his hometown.

Without ever signing to a major label, Dolph launched his own independent label, Paper Route Empire, and was able to earn more than his peers despite keeping a lower profile. And where did this money go? Back to the people.

The day after his murder, the rapper was scheduled to host his annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, donating turkeys to Memphis-based families in need.

On an even larger scale, the hard-as-nails trap artist looked after his city’s youth, purchasing foreclosed properties for his own children on their birthdays and pushing numerous adolescents to find mentors

and help them succeed.

He wasn’t just a rapper. He was an ambitious entrepreneur who stayed loyal to his roots, looking after the same community that raised him.

For longtime fans, his rise to success was only a matter of time, but those who were there from the start know just how long it took him to reach this point.

While platinum hits like “Cut It” and “Major” made him a household name, Dolph had only just begun to enter the mainstream, with his final solo album preceding his death, “Rich Slave,” which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200, not to mention his two collaborative albums with Key Glock, “Dum and Dummer” and “Dum and Dummer 2,” which both peaked at No. 8.

Acting as Dolph’s protégé, Glock was one of Dolph’s only frequent collaborators in the twilight years of his career.

Working typically as a solo artist, Dolph could effortlessly carry any song on his own, equipped with some of the hardest verses around: “Uncle Vic told me stay down with this s--t ‘til it blow up / Smokin’ on some shit you not, got Wock-Wock in my soda / Used to sign for the packs, now I sign t-shirts and posters / Drop 500 racks to drop the top on that new roadster / Balen-

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2021 VOLUME 70 NUMBER 12 CIRCULATION: 3,000

Do you have an interest in journalism, graphic design, photography, social media, advertising, cartoons or copy editing? The Spectrum is always looking for enthusiastic students who want to be part of our team. Join our 45-time award winning independent student newspaper for hands-on, realworld experience in your field.

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The views expressed – both written and graphic – in the Opinion section of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or news@ubspectrum.com. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number, and email address.

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Reilly Mullen MANAGING EDITORS Justin Weiss Dan Eastman, Asst.

NEWS/FEATURES EDITORS Grant Ashley, Sr. Jack Porcari, Sr. Natalie Doller, Asst.

Julie Frey, Asst.

Kayla Estrada, Asst.

Kyle Nguyen, Asst.

ciaga the drip / First class, Dubai, take a trip / Spend a little bit, stack all the chips / I walk in Margiela and go crazy / Can’t get money with me, you too lazy / One thing I ain’t never did was never ever ever let a b---h play me.”

To most people, this is just a verse from a little-known late rapper.

But to me, it’s a verse from one of the most respected rappers in the game.

Dolph may have never had the sales or fame of mainstays like Drake or Kendrick Lamar, but that didn’t stop him from securing features with heavy hitters like Wiz Khalifa, Gucci Mane and Memphis pioneers Juicy J and Project Pat, only further proving his low-key legendary status.

In an era where celebrities are immortalized after death, it’s easy to predict Dolph’s popularity will only grow posthumously, but it’s sad to realize how little new fans will ever know of his tireless work ethic, both in and out the studio.

That’s because Dolph was not just another rapper.

He was a menacing persona who could intimidate any listener in seconds, yet he still found time to become one of the most giving souls his hometown could ever ask for.

Email: alex.falter@ubspectrum.com

SPORTS EDITORS Anthony DeCicco, Sr. Hunter Skoczylas Sophie McNally, Asst.

Kayla Sterner, Asst.

MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Sabrina Akter-Nabi, Sr. Sai Krishna Seethala, Sr. Moaz Elazzazi, Asst.

ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Jenna Quinn, Sr.

ARTS EDITORS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Alex Falter, Sr. Kara Anderson, Asst.

Paolo Blanchi, Sr. Jiayi Zhang, Asst.

4 | Wednesday, December 8 2021

OPINION

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Make a change, you’re not standing in glue Variety is the spice of life, and other common wisdom

MATTHEW SZCZEPANIAK STAFF WRITER

I’ve worn a lot of hats in my life. I’ve stocked shelves and cashed out customers.

I’ve tightened turnbuckles and chipped rust. I’ve cooked steak and fried fries. I’ve loaded trucks and supervised outbounds in warehouses. I’ve baked donuts for the Tim Hortons in the SU. I’ve even steered ships through hurricanes.

And yet, I haven’t regretted leaving any of these paths behind.

Neither should you regret making change when you see fit.

When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in August 2017, I was on the OSG Texas City, the very last ship to get out of the Houston Channel safely. The Houston Channel is the most difficult channel to navigate in North America, and much more so in Category 4 hurricane force winds. I can’t talk like a sailor in this paper because, well, frankly I think that’d be a little inappropriate, but I can confidently say that during all of this, I was on the mick mack mucking

wheel.

I learned a lot by going to sea, especially because I was so young. I naturally learned courage, but I also learned how to work with my hands, how to make due with what I have and how to solve problems creatively. I learned about discipline. When you’ve just gotten to bed after your 4 a.m. watch and you get a 4:40 a.m. call saying “All hands for mooring operations,” you learn how to get yourself up and go.

At the same time, I learned that this lifestyle — going to sea is not a job, but in fact a lifestyle — was simply not for me. Don’t get me wrong, the Seafarers International Union treated me well and I made so much money that much of my family was scratching their heads as to why I would walk away from it.

But I felt I had to do it.

I had to make this change.

When you work in the Merchant Marine, you will likely be at sea for roughly 6-8 months out of the year. When you’re at sea, a seaman is all you get to be. If you enjoy having a stable home, regular hobbies and the feeling that you belong to a specific community, rather than a visitor to a number of them, you’ll be disappointed.

I made this change because life’s too short. If I learned anything from joining the SIU the same day news hit that the SS El Faro went down with all hands and that a classmate had his head crushed during a routine ship exercise, it’s that message: life’s too short to wait.

Are you considering changing your major, like the other one-third of the student

body? Do it now. Don’t even think about it any further.

Are you thinking of dropping out entirely to take up a trade or something similar? Do that too. Don’t delay.

I’m afraid I may have lost my composure writing that paragraph, but that’s OK, too. If you have a message burning in your soul, say it. Don’t even think about it. Put it on paper or in digital recording or even in a visual medium. Say it. Say it now while you can.

Some people may have some objections to my suggestion that you should change your life on a whim. Quite frankly, I feel bad for them. How long can you do the same thing before going crazy?

I would never advise you to live your life with zero concern for the future or money, but quite frankly, these are the worst excuses for not living the life you want to.

“But it’ll cost a lot.”

Fiat currency is fake anyway, paper is cheap. You can always make more money later. But you won’t always have your health and youth to experience the world.

While I was on the USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams, named for the medal of honor recipient, I learned from my bos’n about buddhist koans, a form of open-ended storytelling that is supposed to inspire some sort of enlightenment from meditation. There was plenty of time for this practice while doing dummy work at sea: “A monk apprentice and master are walking together one day when a flock of birds flies overhead. The apprentice says, ‘Look master! Birds!’ The master then hits

him in the head with his staff shouting, ‘Fool! Look again!’”

I was young, dumb and incredibly tired after working 80 hour weeks for months the first time I heard this koan. Luckily, my bos’n was generous enough to give me his own interpretation.

“It’s a lesson on attachment,” he told me. “All things, good or bad, are fleeting in this world.”

Here’s a lesson I’ve learned for you: I’ve never regretted a change. In fact, the only thing I’ve ever regretted is not acting sooner. Donuts to bowlines, I regret nothing. And even if I did, I can always make another change.

You don’t lose yourself. This is another hesitation I’ve heard in regards to changing, the idea that you’ll lose whatever progress and lessons you’ve learned from one station in life. You don’t, though. You are not your job; you are the sum of your experiences. If you wish to become more, you can — you should do something different.

When I was kid, I used to look up at the sky, hoping to see a shooting star. I knew it was rare and I didn’t even know what I was looking for. I didn’t know what a shooting star looked like, until I went to sea and in open waters saw the night sky cleared of all light pollution.

I saw three one night while I was on watch.

No one’s stopping you from doing what you want. They couldn’t if they tried. Your life is fleeting. What will you do with it?

Email: features@ubspectrum.com

This experience is what you make of it Opening myself up to friendship and sharing myself with others unapologetically made my UB experience

NATALIE DOLLER ASST. NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

When I first committed to UB, I was worried I had made the wrong choice.

Unfortunately, my freshman year did little to subdue my fears. The romanticized view of college my family and friends had painted for me was so far from my reality.

Coming from a small town where everyone doesn’t just know everyone, but also everyone’s grandparents, I struggled to make friends. I was nervous to talk to the people I dormed with, so I chose instead to settle into a routine of relative quiet and to accept my desperate desire to go home.

In the spring semester of my freshman year, I started the process to transfer to SUNY Binghamton so I could be a commuter student.

As much as I hate to say it, assistant director of Residential Life Peter Smith was right: My life completely changed when I got a job as an RA in Evans Quad. This

position was a sign to me that I did belong in this community; I just hadn’t found my place in it yet.

Amid the late-night staff meetings, bat sightings and eccentric residents, I found my college best friend (hi, Emma) and the friend group that would define my UB experience. Even with COVID-19’s rude interjection, the winding hallways of Evans Quad — with their muted bowling-alleyesque-carpets — became my home. That’s because the friends that had become my family lived throughout them.

The primary reason my college experience took a complete 180 was because I opened myself up to friendship and shared myself with others unapologetically.

Instead of worrying about how I would be perceived and thinking I wasn’t cool enough to hang out with the people I met freshman year, I went into every social situation with the best of intentions and stayed true to my honest self.

Once I did that, college became the lifechanging experience everyone told me it would be.

It’s with that same attitude that I came to The Spectrum. Even though my time as an assistant editor was brief, I am so thankful for the amazing and talented people at this paper. Seriously, UB — you don’t understand how great the people behind these pages are.

Grant, your out-of-pocket sass and horrible handwriting will never be lost on me.

You have so much to offer this paper and I can’t wait to see how you use your talents.

Just make sure you buy the correct Spanish textbook next semester, since I won’t be around to send you the pictures of pages your edition is missing. Don’t forget to gaslight, gatekeep and girl boss — just don’t do any of those things too close to the sun.

Jack, I admire how open and accepting you are to new ideas; I think it’s one of your strongest qualities as a journalist. Let me know the next time you’re lobbying in Albany, I definitely want to be in your corner.

Julie, you are so unconditionally kind, and the world needs more people like you.

From the moment we met, I could tell that you had a warmth in your soul that is so rare to find. I wouldn’t want to be thrown into this crazy office as a new assistant editor with anyone else. Please continue to take care of Grant if the two of you end up at Marcella again.

Kara, your imaginative writing will always be an inspiration to me. I’m going to miss complaining about Spanish class, your grandma-core sweatshirts and our constant commiserating about Broome County. I look forward to seeing you again at Tom & Marty’s.

Justin and Reilly, thank you for giving me the opportunity to explore journalism more this semester and for always pushing me to be a better writer and reporter.

The two of you are amazing leaders and it was a privilege to work and learn alongside you.

The rest of The Spectrum staff, I could

write something about every single one of you, but then this piece would be pages long. You are all talented, selfless and hilarious people with hearts of gold. It’s corny, but true. The fact that we all converged in this office at once is a blessing that I won’t forget, and you shouldn’t forget it either.

Keep laughing with each other, and maybe do some stellar reporting every now and then.

As I say goodbye to UB, I want to dispense an indispensable piece of advice I have learned during my time in college (yes, random Spectrum employee who finds this in 10 years, this will still be relevant to you): Take ownership of your life. Be an active and positive force in it. Lead with the best intentions and don’t hamper your true self. When you do these things, college will become the fantastical, romanticized myth your family and friends built it up to be.

This experience is what you make of it, so take advantage of the independence you’ve earned and see where following your whims will take you. A lot of times, it may just take you to The Atrium for a midnight order of mozzarella sticks, the Evans Quad Hall Office for a screening of “Snakes on a Plane” or, if you’re really lucky, to the Walden Galleria Cheesecake Factory for the complimentary bread.

But, most likely, it will take you to the people who know you best and who you care for the most.

And there is nothing better than that.

Email: natalie.doller@ubspectrum.com

SPORTS

ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, December 8 2021 | 5

Coming into their own Jeenathan Williams and Ronaldo Segu embrace the spotlight, ready for MAC push ANTHONY DECICCO SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

B head coach Jim Whitesell left little doubt as to who his team’s leaders were heading into the

season.

Whitsell dubbed a trio of seniors — forwards Josh Mballa and Jeenathan Williams and guard Ronaldo Segu — as the team’s “Big 3” prior to the 2021-22 campaign.

The message was clear: it was on these players to get the Bulls back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

All three were major contributors to the 2020-21 team that fell to Ohio in the MidAmerican Conference Championship, but unlike Mballa — who transferred in from Texas Tech prior to the 2019 season — Williams and Segu have been fixtures at UB since their freshman seasons.

With that status came some lofty expectations.

“Both of those kids really care about winning, they really care about winning,” Whitesell told The Spectrum last week. “The great thing [about it] is when they came in their freshman year, [that was] obviously the best school record we ever had. So they understand we’re always gonna play [a] really tough schedule and this is our style of play. They were like, ‘We’re going to embrace it.’ So they’ve done a really good job.”

Williams — the highest-rated recruit in program history — and Segu — the thirdhighest-rated recruit in school history — were members of UB’s historic 2018-19 team that set a school-record with 32 wins and ranked as high as No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25.

Both Williams (3.2 points per game) and Segu (2.1 points per game) made modest contributions but appeared in all 36 games while coming off the bench as freshmen.

Now seniors, the pair have grown into their game and are arguably the best onetwo punch in the conference.

Williams has morphed into a dominant three-level scorer who currently ranks second in the MAC with 19.4 points per game, while shooting 50% from the field.

Segu, an undersized yet calculated floor general, ranks second in the conference at 5.1 assists per game, and ninth with 15.1 points per contest.

The two have shown improvement every year, something Whitesell says stems from their unwavering desire to win.

Segu, in particular, has made immense strides with his three-point shot this season. The Orlando native is shooting a scorching 46.9% from deep, which is leaps and bounds better than his 39.8% from last season and his 36% clip from his sophomore and freshman years.

Segu says he had to attack his outside shooting in the offseason if he wanted to take his game to the next level, and he’s reaping the benefits of his work through seven games.

“I feel like in today’s game, if you can’t shoot you can’t play,” Segu said. “So I’ve been working on my three-point shot, my outside shot a lot. I’m just happy it’s come a long way.”

But Segu, or “Rondo” as his teammates and coaches call him, isn’t only getting it done on the offensive end.

Despite not standing an inch over sixfeet-tall and weighing just 165 lbs., Segu plays physical defense, often electing to guard players as soon as they cross halfcourt.

Whitesell called Segu “one of the best defenders in our league,” and expressed the importance of his point guard’s experience guarding pro-level point guards in the MAC. “In our league, there’s gonna be a lot of great point guards,” Whitesell said. “I think last year for Rondo was a great learning experience because the outstanding players in our league were point guards: Lo-

Alexander Brown / The Spectrum Seniors Ronaldo Segu (10) and Jeenathan Williams (11) are two of the three biggest recruits in UB history.

ren Cristian Jackson [formerly of Akron, now playing professionally with Chorale Roanne Basket of LNB Pro in France], Marreon Jackson [formerly of Toledo, now playing for Arizona State]. He really had to max out every night. He never had a night where it was like, ‘Hey, he had an easy or favorable matchup.’ It was like, ‘I gotta go get it done.’”

Williams, on the other hand, is one of the most versatile offensive weapons in the nation.

With the ability to score from the paint, the midrange area and the three-point line, he has the ability to take over a game on offense. He did so in an 88-76 road loss to then-No. 6 Michigan, dropping a careerhigh 32 points on an efficient 14-for-22 from the field.

His scoring ability earned him attention from NBA scouts after he declared for the 2021 NBA Draft in May. Williams elected to return to Buffalo for his senior season following workouts and conversations with pro scouts, who told him he must build upon his scoring prowess.

“They love my scoring ability, they want to see me be able to make reads, make passes, get assists and make guys better. So that’s mainly what I’ve been working on this summer, trying to be a true shooting guard,” Williams said. “And like, as you see sometimes I played a point [guard] with this team. So, just expand on my game in that way. So that’s what we are talking about a lot.”

Whitesell also has high expectations for his leading scorer.

He says he wants Williams to become a more assertive rebounder to round out his game and help the team secure stops on defense. Williams, a decent rebounder in his own right, averaged 6.8 boards per

Alexander Brown / The Spectrum Senior guard Ronaldo Segu (10) scored a then-career-high 24 points in the MAC Championship Game last season.

game last season. But that number is down to 4.7 through seven games, and Whitesell expects big things from his star player.

“The big thing I want him to do is he’s got to rebound better,” Whitesell said.

“He’s a good rebounder, but I need his rebounding numbers to go up, then he’s more involved. He’s going to get that putback, he’s going to get an assist, he’s going to get a kick-out three. That will allow him to take advantage of his versatility instead of being one-dimensional.”

While Williams and Segu are different players with different skill sets, they express similar emotions at the end of games.

Both can be seen “mean mugging” opponents after clutch shots and wearing their emotions on their sleeves in clutch situations. However, these gestures can ride a fine line between intensity and unrestrained zeal.

Saturday’s 68-65 loss to St. Bonaventure perfectly captured the emotional differences between the two.

After Williams blocked a shot and turned it into a score on the other end late in the second half, the 6-foot-5 forward pounded his chest and scrunched his face, seemingly fueling his own fire for the remainder of the game.

On the other hand, Segu’s intensity resulted in a technical foul after he got into a shoving match with St. Bonaventure senior guard Dominick Welch with just 1:29 remaining in the game.

A compelling dynamic that must be monitored throughout the game, Whitesell says he needs to reel Segu back during games whereas he can allow Williams to remain even-keeled.

“With Rondo it’s [the message is] more, ‘Stay neutral.’ As a quarterback, you can’t be so excited until you score the touchdown. You’ve got to move on to the next play,” Whitesell said. “Nate’s more levelheaded, that’s why Nate bounces back a lot of times in games when things aren’t going his way. He’s hard to shut down for over 40 minutes because he’s got a good neutral mentality.”

Williams says the intensity the two bring to the game “drives the team.”

The emotion they pour out onto the court is a result of a passion for the game.

When that passion can be channeled at the right time, it lights a fire within the team.

UB’s brightest stars aren’t afraid of the big moment. Their passion drives them.

Even if it results in the occasional technical foul, Williams and Segu only know how to play one way.

“It’s what we work for, it’s what we dream of,” Williams said. “Me and Rondo, we’re dogs out there. We’re gonna show it in our faces, we play with a lot of passion. We really love the game and it means everything to us to perform in those big moments.”

Email: anthony.decicco@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @DeCicco42

6 | Wednesday, December 8 2021

FEATURES

ubspectrum.com

UB ‘aware’ of CVS closure, ‘reviewing’ alternative retail options The ELLI will be stocked with “additional health care items” in the interim JACK PORCARI SENIOR NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

UB is “aware” that the CVS located in The Commons is set to close in January and is “currently reviewing options to sell certain health and personal items on campus,” UB spokesperson John DellaContrada said last week.

CVS is a campus staple for over-thecounter medications, food and essential products — especially for students who don’t have their own transportation. The Spectrum reported on CVS’ impending closure on Nov. 16, following reports that the retail chain would be closing.

A university spokesperson said that UB offers resources for students looking for essential goods. South Campus’ Michael Hall provides prescription refills and pharmacy services as well as over-the-counter medications. Student Health Services will be moving from Michael Hall to Maple Road, near North Campus, this spring.

The university also offers transportation to local malls and grocery stores, like Wegmans and the Boulevard Mall. The new TransLoc app offers an on-demand safety shuttle service, which bus students within a “1.5-mile radius around the South Campus,” from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. during the fall and spring semester.

“The university is aware that the CVS location on Lee Road which is part of The Commons, will be closing,” a UB spokesperson said. “The Commons is an independent, privately owned development, and CVS is also privately owned and operated. UB is currently reviewing options to sell certain health and personal care items on campus, and will communicate to the UB community when there is more information to share. For example, Campus Dining and Shops is stocking additional health care items at the ELLI @ Ellicott.”

A CVS spokesperson confirmed to The Spectrum in late November that the campus CVS will be one of 900 stores nationwide to close amid shifting consumer buying

Reilly Mullen / The Spectrum The CVS in The Commons is closing in January.

patterns.

“The closure of this store is not a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our employees,” a CVS spokesperson told The Spectrum. “We understand the disappointment of our closing store’s neighbors and customers. We are committed to the area and will continue to provide the community with outstanding service at our other stores nearby.”

Although UB says it will offer additional accommodations, some students worry that the absence of CVS will make purchasing weekly essentials more difficult.

Freshman pharmacy major Kelechi Ogbonnaya says having a central location to pick up necessities is crucial to residentialcampus life.

“I live in Ellicott so I get the ELLI, but

there’s people who live in the apartments where this [CVS] is much closer than going all the way over there [to the ELLI].”

Ogbonnaya also questioned how the ELLI would fit additional medications and supplies, considering that it’s already nearly full.

Other students, like senior history and education major Giancarlo Pyrce, see the problem from a different perspective.

“In terms of products CVS specifically carries, I wouldn’t say that I purchased those things online,” he said. “Honestly, I’d probably just go to Walmart or Target rather than go to CVS and buy household items or maybe the beauty supply store with more options.”

Despite this, Pyrce understands why students may be wary of this location shut-

ting down.

“I live on South Campus so the pharmacies were closer in that area and more readily accessible, rather than the last two years, my junior and senior year,” he said.

“I live on the North Campus and now this is the easier way to go about it, unless you have a car, it would be difficult.”

Freshman Business Administration major Purvika Chaudhary goes to the campus CVS about twice a month. She says, “it is the most convenient store.”

“Closing it would just make it hard because as it is there are less convenience stores on campus,” Chaudhary said. “The campus is so big, so it was really helpful to have CVS.” Email:jack.porcari@ubspectrum.com

Popular restaurant Big Mood shuts doors permanently Big Mood is just one of several plant-based restaurants that recently closed JULIE FREY ASST. NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

Big Mood, the vegan eatery in Elmwood Village popular among UB students, announced on Instagram that it would close its doors until further notice on Nov. 20 following a break-in. A source familiar with Big Mood confirmed that the plantbased restaurant is permanently closed.

Jason Monterrosa, a Big Mood employee, says the restaurant is permanently closed following the break-in and continuing issues with staffing and hours. He says he suspects many customers were put off by the oft-changing hours of operation.

“In the middle of September [Big Mood] laid off all but two people on staff so at that point I was working front and back of house,” Monterrosa said. “I was basically doing everything.”

“A lot of people were put off that we changed our hours so often, people were confused when they could come in or not.”

Big Mood is joining several local plantbased eateries like Grindhaus Cafe and FryBaby Donuts in shutting its doors.

Both eateries closed their doors in 2021, with Grindhaus closing on Nov. 3.

Big Mood, and other plant-based eateries, are casualties of COVID-19-related difficulties and join the over 25 restaurants that have closed in Buffalo since 2020.

Monterrosa, a junior UB Teach major and Spectrum staff writer, says Big Mood had been struggling for a while and had suffered from three separate burglaries.

Big Mood publicly acknowledged these

Jack Porcari / The Spectrum Big Mood, a popular vegan eatery in Elmwood Village, is permanently closed, according to sources.

issues on its Instagram. Monterrosa added that he never met the owners of Big Mood, only his managers, and was disappointed because he had left his previous higher-paying job to work at the joint. “[Big Mood] was a job that I always wanted — working at a vegan kitchen,” Monterrosa said. “Then the layoffs happened. I sort of saw it coming but even when it did happen after [the most recent] break-in, I was really upset because it was a job I saw myself working at until I graduated.”

UB Vegan Club president Marissa D’Antoni was sad to hear that Big Mood

is permanently closed.

“Wow, that sucks,” D’Antoni said. “The food was really good, I just couldn’t go often because I don’t have a car.”

Corin Carpenter, a junior Spanish education major, says she enjoyed Big Mood’s food and atmosphere.

“I always enjoyed their food,” Carpenter said. “It was fun to eat food that looked like meat but wasn’t. They had cool options and every time I went there the people I was with always found something they liked, even if they weren’t vegan.

Also, I loved the vibe of the back patio and the art incorporated everywhere.”

Reflecting on his experiences at Big Mood, Monterrosa said the restaurant industry is challenging for employees.

“My manager would have to buy stuff from Wegmans or [the] shop right down the street,” Monterrosa said. “If it wasn’t for those actions, we wouldn’t have been able to open for that week. Managers would pay for that with their own money out of their pocket and they never got compensated for either… it really speaks to the issues in the service industry in general.”

Email: julie.frey@ubspectrum.com

FEATURES

ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, December 8 2021 | 7

Austin’s Kitchen brings convenient comfort food to The Commons Korean cuisine returns with self-pay stations and a simple menu JACK PORCARI SENIOR NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

The lunchtime chaos brewing in The Commons each day is a beast to be tamed.

For UB alum Austin Lee, the owner of Austin’s Kitchen, opening day only lasted two hours, before the restaurant ran out of ingredients for the day.

The new Korean comfort food joint opened Dec. 1 and has limited hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Upon entry, Austin’s Kitchen is noticeably different from its predecessor, Korean Express. Inside, there’s more tables, cheaper prices, convenient ordering systems and a clean and welcoming atmosphere. Another big difference is Austin’s Kitchens’ menu offerings — five core dishes and two specials.

Among these offerings are tteokbokki (rice cakes and broth), soondooboo (spicy tofu soup), donkatsu (deep fried pork), bibimbap (rice mixed with egg, vegetables and a choice of protein) and kimchi fried rice. So far, the most popular dishes are kimchi fried rice and donkatsu, according to Lee. Students looking for something filling and packed with vegetables will find bibimbap ($9) to be a worthy choice. Carrots, cucumbers, bean sprouts, lettuce and rice come together to create a crunchy journey worth embarking upon in this dish. All vegetables come steaming with warmth, and the egg is the perfect touch to round out the flavor profile. The gochujang drizzle on top adds an umami element worth exploring, too. The best part about this dish is its versatility, making for a perfect morning munch or afternoon snack.

Tteokbokki ($9) is a perfect comfort meal that is as rich as it is spicy. Soft fish cakes lay across a bed of chewy, broth-saturated rice cakes. Since the rice cakes have soaked up all the seasonings, they deliver a punch of tingling spice and heat with every bite. Crispy cabbage and green onion top off this simple yet effective meal, which

STUDY ABROAD FROM PAGE 1

abroad or exchanges, 14 of whom will remain in Buffalo during the spring semester.

Colleen Culleton, interim director for undergraduate studies in the Romance Languages and Literatures, says studying abroad is a unique and important experience.

“Studying abroad can give students a significant boost in their language learning, since there is no substitute for the total im-

features a variety of textures throughout.

The kimchi fried rice ($9) is a near-perfect dish. The rice comes out fluffy and warm. The kimchi and rice are layered under sliced green onions and a fried egg, creating a delectable scramble similar to the bibimbap. This dish could benefit from additional spice, as the heat builds incrementally, then plateaus. It also could benefit from one or two vegetables to give the meal a little more dimension. On the whole, the kimchi fried rice is a dish worth ordering again.

The prospect of opening a new restaurant during a global pandemic is most definitely bleak. But with the overwhelming amount of support Lee says he has received so far, he hopes to expand his options to include two weekly specials and other small changes to make the customer experience even better.

Email: jack.porcari@ubspectrum.com

Jack Porcari / The Spectrum Bibimbap features a variety of vegetables including spinach, carrots, bean sprouts and more.

Jack Porcari / The Spectrum Tteokbokki with fish cakes and spicy broth from Austin’s Kitchen.

mersion experience that comes with it, and of course the longer they go abroad, the better,” Culleton said. “However, studying abroad, in the best of circumstances, is much more than that. It doesn’t just immerse you in a language, but also in a new culture. You learn that the way of thinking and doing things that you’ve lived with your whole life isn’t the only way of thinking and doing things. You learn to see yourself the way others see you, and take a step back to adopt a critical perspective on your own identity.”

Email: julie.frey@ubspectrum.com

Alexander Brown / The Spectrum UB’s Study Abroad office is located at 201 Talbert Hall.

Anti-semitic and racist posters found on campus UPD says it hasn’t found evidence that the posters pose a risk to the campus community JUSTIN WEISS MANAGING EDITOR

University Police have opened an investigation into a number of anti-semitic and racist posters found on campus, according to Deputy Chief of Police Joshua Sticht.

The posters — which promote neo-Nazi documentaries and racist tropes — have been found in multiple buildings across North and South Campus since Thanksgiving weekend. The university issued a statement last Thursday condemning the posters, which were found over the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

“The university recognizes the deep upset that these postings cause to UB’s Jewish community, particularly during Hanukkah [which ended Monday], and to people of color at our university,” the university said in a UBNow story. “UB stands in solidarity with our Jewish community and with our students, faculty and staff of color. We strongly affirm their right to study and work at the university without fear of violence, hatred and intimidation.”

UB spokesperson John DellaContrada said a half-dozen faculty and community members brought these posters to the university’s attention in the last few weeks.

Sticht says UPD believes the posters were put up over Thanksgiving weekend, even if some were only found later.

“The investigation is still open, but we

have not found any evidence that indicates a risk to the university community,” Sticht said. He mentioned that UPD shared information with the Buffalo FBI Office and the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, but that their analyses didn’t indicate a threat of violence and that no other university in the area has had the same posters.

UB has had a few encounters with antisemitic and racist slurs and symbols over the years.

In 2019, the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force was called to investigate racist, anti-semitic and homphobic slurs and symbols found on a Knox Hall bathroom stall. In 2016, similar slurs were found in a bathroom in Capen Hall.

In 2012, a swastika and the words “F--k Jews” were found in the Hillel of Buffalo lounge in The Commons.

“Above all, we must not let these hateful and cowardly actions succeed in bringing fear to our university,” vice president for inclusive excellence Despina Stratigakos said in a statement. “We are a community that rejects hateful ideology and that respects and supports each other.”

Email: justin.weiss@ubspectrum.com

FEATURES

8 | Wednesday, December 8 2021

How to take advantage of being a student

ubspectrum.com

free and discounted things

SPECTRUM STAFF

Being a student on a budget is a tough task — that’s why the staff of The Spectrum compiled a list of free and discounted things to do in and around the Queen City.

From hiking to sports games, thrifting to the gym, here’s a list of activities to satisfy your desires and help your pocketbook:

Undergraduate students receive a free ticket to any sporting event held at UB Stadium or Alumni Arena. Tickets are distributed electronically and can be found in your UB Rewards app. To reserve your ticket, go to the “Events” tab and click the check mark. All you will need to do on game day is scan the QR code and cheer on the Bulls!

Woodlawn Beach

Yes, I know you just re-read that. Buffalo does have beaches. Although it’s not weather-appropriate for the majority of the school year, the summer and beginning of the fall semester are optimal times for anyone looking to soak up some sun or cool off in the comfortable water.

Free to everyone, Woodlawn Beach resides on the easternmost point of Lake Erie, and is complete with a cool Buffalo breeze that perfectly complements the scorching July sun and more than enough room for social distancers to make their own space without worry of fellow beachgoers. Even pets can join in on the fun, with owners required to keep them supervised at all times, either crated or on a leash no longer than six feet.

KAYLA STERNER

Pay what you wish at Albright-Knox

Moaz Elazzazi / The Spectrum Undergraduate students receive a free ticket to any sporting event held at UB Stadium or Alumni Arena.

ALEX FALTER

JULIE FREY

Free Buffalo News Subscription

Goodwill, Salvation Army and Savers

The cost of a subscription to The Buffalo News may be going up, but anyone with a UB email address can read all their articles for free. Through a partnership between UB, the paper’s New in Education (NIE) program, UB students, faculty and staff members have unlimited access to the website, app and daily E-edition. All you have to do is go to go.BuffaloNews. com/ub-access and log-in with your UB email — just remember to check off the “remember me for seven days” box on the Duo authentication.

Who doesn’t like a good deal? When you head to either Goodwill, Salvation Army or Savers, you’re bound to find something for a great price. Whether it’s vintage sports gear, dress clothing or even a couch, these thrift stores have hidden gems for unbeatable prices. Each store has multiple locations scattered throughout the Buffalo area, so if you’re a big shopper, hit them all! If not, just find the one closest to you. Just remember, all of the clothes are donated, so make sure to wash everything right after you buy it.

GRANT ASHLEY

Spotify Premium Subscription

As a student, Spotify Premium allows you to listen to ad-free music for a low monthly price of $4.99. Spotify Premium is originally $9.99 per month, so the student discount is a great deal. The subscription also comes with Hulu and Showtime — quite the value for a student on a budget. Getting the discount is easy; just verify you’re a student on the Spotify website and use the app — you’ll even get the obligatory Spotify Wrapped at the end of the year.

ANTHONY DECICCO

Julie Frey / The Spectrum There’s nothing quite as therapeutic as going outdoors and enjoying the fresh air and cool breeze.

Hiking

There’s nothing quite as therapeutic as going outdoors and enjoying the fresh air and cool breeze. Whether you’re venturing to the North Towns or crossing the border into Pennsylvania, there’s something for everyone — scenic overlooks, pretty wildlife and friendly through-hikers. The best part? It’s completely free, save for parking costs.

JUSTIN WEISS

Central Rock Gym

DAN EASTMAN

Bird Island Pier

Bird Island Pier is a great day trip out for those seeking fresh air. With beautiful sightlines of Lake Erie, the Niagara River and the Peace Bridge at your fingertips, this is the perfect spot for runners or cyclists and a lovely walk out for anyone else.

You can access the pier through Broderick Park, and from there it’s a 2.2-mile trek south to the end of the pier. Unity Island Park is connected to the pier, too, adding to the pretty sights along the way.

Buffalo’s crown jewel, the AlbrightKnox Art Gallery, showcases modern and contemporary art and waives admission every first Friday of the month. M&T Bank sponsors “First Fridays” at the gallery campus off of Elmwood Avenue.

While the gallery is undergoing construction, its Northland campus is open and offers pay-what-you-wish admission Friday through Sunday through Jan. 16. Albright Knox is the sixth-oldest public art institution in the country and the gallery is expected to reopen post-renovations in 2022.

Courtesy of Andrea Davis / Unsplash GrubHub+ offers exclusive perks, promotions and free delivery to UB students free of charge until graduation.

Rock climbing is a great way to stay fit if you get bored working out in a regular gym. Central Rock Gym in Buffalo boasts floor-to-ceiling belay walls and endless bouldering opportunities. You’ll find a welcoming community filled with friendly climbers always willing to provide tips or motivation. The student discount knocks $3 off the day pass and $14 off the monthly membership, which is good for any of their locations. If you’re lucky enough, you can snag a semester pass through the outdoor adventure club for $100.

MOAZ ELAZZAZI

SOPHIE MCNALLY

GrubHub

UNiDAYS

From tech to makeup to clothing, UNiDAYS is like Honey for college students.

The website compiles student discounts for major brands like Samsung, Urban Outfitters, Ray Bans, Adidas and so many more — all in one convenient place. Sign up for a free account with your school email address and check the website before you buy anything online to see if you can save some extra cash. As long as your .edu email address is still active, you can reap the benefits of hundreds of student discounts!

The final legs of the semester mean it’s high time to start thinking about dining arrangements for the next term. GrubHub+ is certainly one option on the table, with the food delivery service offering exclusive perks, promotions and free delivery to UB students free of charge until graduation.

To activate this deal on the GrubHub app, navigate into the “Account” tab and select Grubhub+ membership, then click “I’m in.” Students can also use campus cash or FlexiBULL bucks as payment by verifying their UB affiliation in GrubHub’s Campus “Dining” tab.

NATALIE DOLLER

KYLE NGUYEN

Free tickets to UB games

Courtesy of Alexander Shatov / Unsplash As a student, Spotify Premium allows you to listen to ad-free music for a low monthly price of $4.99.

FEATURES

ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, December 8 2021 | 9

UB announces renovations to Kanazawa Island A new sidewalk and trees are planned for the tiny island near Wilkeson Quadrangle MATTHEW SZCZEPANIAK STAFF WRITER

Kanazawa Island, a tiny island located next to Lake LaSalle, is in the process of receiving “much-needed” renovations, according to a UBNow article. Situated near Wilkeson Quadrangle, the island is a littleknown formation on UB’s vast campus.

In recent years, the island has been, for the most part, obscured by trees and bushes. It will be getting new sidewalks and tree plantings, according to the university.

“Kanazawa Island was in disrepair for many years,” Sean Brodfuehrer, an architectural planner in Campus Planning, said in the UBNow story. “The original asphalt paths were much too wide and were crumbling into the lake. And at the same time, students and alumni still found it to be a special location.”Brofeuhrer, the project’s designer, says the origin of Kanazawa Is-

land is “a bit of a mystery, to be honest.”

“The construction drawings and photos when Lake LaSalle was created do not show this as an island. It was just a peninsula to the mainland,” Brofeuhrer said. “At some point after the Ellicott Complex was completed, it became an island.”

As part of the facelift, UB will plant 12 flowering trees, including nine eastern rosebuds, that will form a circular ring around the inside of the path and be “similar to a cherry blossom” as they produce a pink flower. The university recently narrowed the island’s sidewalks to five feet and pulled them back from the shoreline.

The renovations are part of the university’s plan to “replace cracked and deteriorated sidewalks around the university,” according to the UBNow story. The island currently features a footbridge, a circular sidewalk and a couple of benches.

Kanazawa Island is named for the Japanese city of Kanazawa, a sister city of Buffalo. The seal of Kanazawa can be found on the sidewalk that encircles the island.

Email: news@ubspectrum.com

President Tripathi made more than $780,000, plus benefits, in 2020 Tripathi was the 40th highest-paid public university chief executive in the U.S. GRANT ASHLEY SENIOR NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

Chuck Priore, Stony Brook University: $424,180

Greg Gattuso, University at Albany:

Michael Bernstein (former), Stony

Brook University: $548,491

A. Scott Weber, University at Buffalo:

Fardin Sanai, University at Albany: $358,288

Rod Grabowski, University at Buffalo:

*Unlike the University at Albany and Stony Brook University, UB plays in the Football Bowl Subdivision, the highest level of Division I college football.

John Koch, Binghamton University:

Division I Head Basketball Coaches:

Lyle Gomes, Stony Brook University:

$351,147

Jim Whitesell, University at Buffalo:

$409,540

$241,595

Vice Presidents for Finance and Administration: $355,890

Laura Hubbard, University at Buffalo:

Will Brown (former), University at

$348,086

Albany: $394,588

Todd Foreman, University at Albany:

Geno Ford, Stony Brook University:

$289,658 Binghamton University: N/A

Tommy Dempsey, Binghamton

Deans of Colleges of Arts and Sciences:

$376,970

University: $277,291

Nicole Sampson, Stony Brook University: $376,144

Vice Presidents for Research: Provosts:

$459,296

$338,545 Binghamton University: N/A

Venugopal Govindaraju, University

at Buffalo: $418,494

Robin Schulze, University at Buffalo:

$322,340

Elizabeth Chilton, Binghamton University (2019): $300,141

Richard Reeder, Stony Brook University: $354,681

Jeanette Altarriba, University at

Donald Nieman, Binghamton

Bahgat Sammakia, Binghamton

Albany: $227,327

Carol Kim, University at Albany:

James Dias, University at Albany:

Deans of Schools of Management and Business:

$440,785

University: $340,873

$338,781

Division I Head Football Coaches*:

Lance Leipold (former), University at Buffalo: $686,845

University: $319,959 $249,184

Paul Tesluk (former), University at

Vice Presidents for Advancement and Philanthropy:

Dexter Bailey, Stony Brook University (2018; since replaced by Justin Fincher):

Buffalo: $430,523

Manuel London, Stony Brook

University: $363,676

Nilanjan Sen, University at Albany:

$335,394

Upinder Dhillon, Binghamton University: $320,833

Deans of Schools of Engineering and Applied Sciences: Paolo Blanchi / The Spectrum

UB President Satish Tripathi made $786,196 in 2020, making him the 40th highest-paid chief executive at a public institution, according to data from The Chronicle of Higher Education.

That $786,196 salary comes from three funding sources: the state, the UB Foundation and the SUNY Research Foundation.

Tripathi earns $430,422 from the state and $281,500 from the UB Foundation and SUNY Research Foundation, according to UB spokesperson John DellaContrada.

The Spectrum could not confirm the source of the remaining $74,274.

“The compensation level of a UB president is based on the national marketplace for presidential salaries at AAU [Association of American Universities] public research universities and on UB’s status as the largest institution within SUNY,” DellaContrada said.

That salary puts him well above the median annual salary of $495,000 for presidents of public doctoral institutions, but he made $675 for every $1 million in institution expenses, putting him below the median on that metric.

Tripathi was also the highest paid president of a SUNY flagship university, making $159,693 more than the next highest paid president, University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez, who ranked 76th on Chronicle’s list with a salary of $626,503. Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger ranked 89th with a salary of $575,000. Maurice McInnis, the president of fellow-AAU member Stony Brook University, ranked 208th and took home the lowest salary of $319,701, although she didn’t become president until July 1, 2020. Her predecessor, Samuel Stanley Jr., made $746,517 in 2018 before stepping down in 2019 to become president of Michigan State University.

In addition to his salary, Tripathi receives benefits including access to a 14,778 square-foot house owned by the UB Foundation, a car benefit, a “house assistant for maintenance and other household duties” and a membership to the Buffalo Club, a “distinctive and storied city club” in Buffalo’s Allentown neighborhood, according to The Chronicle, DellaContrada and the club’s website.

Tripathi has had access to the house and car benefits since he became president but didn’t start receiving a Buffalo Club membership or “house assistant” until the 2015-16 school year, according to The Chronicle.

The presidents of the other three SUNY universities also receive housing benefits, although none receive a “social club bene-

fit” or “personnel services benefit” similar to the ones enjoyed by Tripathi, according to The Chronicle. Havidán and McInnis both receive car benefits; Stenger does not.

Tripathi earned $113,996 less than he did in 2019, when he earned $900,192 due to a sharp increase in nontaxable benefits paid to him that year. But his 2020 salary still sits at $39,388 higher than his earnings in 2018, when he made $746,808.

Tripathi placed 15th on Chronicle’s list of public university presidents’ salaries during the 2011-12 academic year, his first full one as president. It then gradually fell to 38th by the 2016-17 academic year and 50th by 2018. It reached 34th in 2019 before falling back to 40th in 2020.

The Spectrum also collected salary data from See Through New York for some of UB’s top earners and their counterparts at the other three SUNY “university centers.” The earnings listed here exclude salaries from SUNY-affiliated foundations and represent annual totals from 2020, unless otherwise noted due to recent personnel changes.

Krishnaswami Srihari, Binghamton

University: $449,835

Fotis Sotiropoulos, Stony Brook

University: $413,587

Kemper Lewis, University at Buffalo: $346,223

Kim Boyer, University at Albany:

$285,085

Email: grant.ashley@ubspectrum.com

10 | Wednesday, December 8 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ubspectrum.com

‘It felt so good to be back on stage’: Students return to the physical stage for ‘Red Bike’ The show utilizes its entire cast to portray a collective stream of consciousness ALEX FALTER, KARA ANDERSON SENIOR ARTS EDITOR, ASST. ARTS EDITOR

As the lights die down on the stage, audience members cannot help but wonder what is about to take place. The objects around the stage seem to have no connection, and the confusion is only amplified when the actors run onto the stage wearing vastly different outfits.

And then they speak, passing around pieces of a bike, as if it is a microphone.

“Everyone will see you!”

“You will inspire envy!”

But these actors are not talking to each other, nor are they talking to the audience.

They are speaking as one, representing the internal dialogue of one wide-eyed 11-year-old who clearly loves their bike.

This is “Red Bike” by Caridad Svich, a play about a child whose inner-thoughts are spoken in succession by the play’s cast, which effectively represents a collective stream of consciousness.

Held in the Center for the Arts last weekend, “Red Bike” marked the first inperson performance for many Theatre students at the collegiate level.

Isabella Gomez-Barrientos, a sophomore music theatre major, says she was overjoyed to finally be performing on a UB stage — something she’s longed to do since she first applied to the school at the start of the pandemic.

“It felt so good to be back onstage. It

was so nice to be able to see each other’s faces because we were unmasked. I guess it was just like one big release,” GomezBarrientos said. “It was an experience that I’m never going to forget after two very long years of not being able to be on stage with other people unless we’re six feet apart.”

Even with the focus on one character, the play featured a number of actors, each of whom aimed to represent a part of the life, mind and body of the child in their own right.

To help the cast tap into their own inner-11-year-olds, guest director Victoria Pérez-Maggiolo had her actors play numerous childhood games and even bring in their favorite toys to use when they had time.

“She also had us bring in things that had significance to us in our childhoods to get in that mindset to remember what it was like to be 11 years old,” Gomez-Barrientos said. “I think part of that process really helped us all get into the groove and reconnect with how we felt as 11 year olds.”

Despite representing the same form of conscience, the cast members all offered up their own expressions, as they wore a range of costumes and clothing that an 11-year-old would wear to evoke some part of the mind.

“It’s a very individual approach to the development of the character,” PérezMaggiolo said. “So all of them shined in multiple ways and then all of those discoveries and choices that were made started to influence how they moved on the stage.”

Gomez-Barrientos chose to wear what she referred to as “athleisure,” consisting of brightly-colored and comfortably fit-

Sai Krishna-Seethala / The Spectrum The actors dressed in various costumes to showcase their “individual approach” to the nameless 11-year-old main character.

Sai Krishna-Seethala / The Spectrum Actors created the symbolic red bike with their bodies and individual bike parts.

ting athletic clothing. But the fashion variety was far greater than colors and materials.

“They had painted bright pink frogs all across it and then I had a bright pink hat that had frog eyes on it that looked like a frog,” Gomez-Barrientos. “I guess I turned into some kind of frog girl who really likes pink.”

In order to fully evoke that inner 11-year-old, Pérez-Maggiolo made sure to consider input from all her actors during the production process.

“We did a lot of work on how to storytell together so that it is not merely the director’s idea,” Pérez-Maggiolo said. “It was really about me being able to express certain parameters and the certain way that we’re going to tell the story, but then allowing for the liberty for them to bring the story to life.”

As “Red Bike” moved through this storytelling, it brought together an abstract conversation on capitalism and the perils that come with this economic system. For audience members, this was a particularly profound aspect of the play, especially with the scene on homelessness.

Here, as the projector lit up a “Please Help” sign, the actors sang like a haunting church choir, the main child expressing their frustration for being unable to help a homeless child.

“It was like a big ocean behind him of anger,” sophomore music theatre major Glen Chitty said.

The particular vulnerability of being limited in one’s own power was what really drove this scene home, according to audience members.

“You want to have fortune and some-

times you can’t at the capacity you’d like to,” Chitty said.

In delving into these larger themes and critiques of current U.S. society, audience members found the use of abstract storytelling, rather than a traditionally plotted story, to bolster their experience with the material.

“Since it was so abstract, and [used] so poetic language, it was a lot easier to watch a kid just pontificate about this red bike and how it could mean 1,500 different things,” junior musical theatre major Henry Elliot said.

The style of the play proved to be a point of interest for audience members who found novelty in capturing the human experience through this fluid manner.

“I feel like it’s more risky and experimental,” Elliot said. “I think we should be doing more theatre like that.”

More than just providing a newer way to engage with theatre and storytelling, audience members found that using the lens of a child to break down more difficult themes was particularly effective. “[There’s] the relatableness of like, ‘Oh, we all wanted to be a little superstar,’” senior musical theatre major Kristen-Marie Lopez said, regarding the main character’s repeated desire to stand out.

While this may be Pérez-Maggiolo’s sole guest direction for UB, she effectively used her time to evoke an exciting performance that provides a glimpse into the future of UB’s theatre program.

Email:kara.anderson@ubspectrum.com Email:alex.falter@ubspectrum.com

Sai Krishna-Seethala / The Spectrum Actors used detached bike handles and riding motions to imitate riding the titular red bike.

SPORTS

ubspectrum.com

Wednesday, December 8 2021 | 11

UB falls to St. Bonaventure at the buzzer in WNY classic Jalen Adaway hits gamewinning three with 1.3 seconds remaining to halt Bulls’ comeback ANTHONY DECICCO SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

HUNTER SKOCZYLAS SPORTS EDITOR

Bonnies fans stormed the court after Jalen Adaway’s game-winning three-pointer gave St. Bonaventure (7-1) a 68-65 victory over UB (4-3) Saturday afternoon at a sold-out Reilly Center in Allegany, NY. The Bulls rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit — highlighted by threepointers from senior guards Ronaldo Segu and Maceo Jack and senior forward Jeenathan Williams — but the comeback was put to rest when Adaway hit the coldblooded three with just 1.3 seconds remaining on the clock.

St. Bonaventure ran a double on-ball screen to get Adaway open for the gamesealer. The well-designed play saw Adaway get off a clean look as senior forward Josh Mballa lunged for a late contest to no avail.

“Give Adaway credit, he made a nice shot,” head coach Jim Whitesell said after the game. “We got cross wired on the ball screen coverage and he had it with a great looking three. I thought we came real late on the [defensive] challenge but we came with a challenge on it, and give him credit.”

Despite a competitive first half, the Bulls came out lethargic for the first 10 minutes of the second frame. St. Bonaventure led by as many as 13 points in the second half before UB flipped a switch toward the end of the game and made things competitive.

Williams sparked the Bulls’ comeback with 23 points, 19 of which came in the second half. Whether it was in transition or in the half-court offense, he imposed his will on the Bonnies, similar to his 32-point performance in UB’s 88-76 loss to then-No. 6 Michigan.

The Rochester native was also active defensively with four steals, a couple of which he turned into points on the offensive end. “[It was] just staying patient and trying to play defense,” Williams said. “Get ener-

gy on defense to go on offense, that’s what I tried to do. Just stay poised and then just let the game come to me.”

The Bulls had no answer for senior center Osun Osunniyi, who scored 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting. UB threw Mballa, junior forward LaQuill Hardnett and redshirt sophomore center David Skogman in Osunniyi’s way, but none were able to limit the near seven-footer in the paint. Granted, the Bulls didn’t have graduate center Brock Bertram — who stands an inch taller than Osunniyi — at their disposal, as the sixth-year grad student attended the game in street clothes and a walking boot on his left foot.

UB’s big men also failed to make an impact offensively, as Mballa (two points), Hardnett (one point) and Skogman (five points) didn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Adaway led the Bonnies with 16 points while redshirt sophomore guard Linton Holmes and senior guard Dominick Welch each hit pairs of timely three-pointers for St. Bonaventure.

The raucous St. Bonaventure crowd also helped the Bonnies. The 4,860-person sell-out crowd maximized momentum shifts and created a chaotic scene in the Reilly Center. Members of the crowd were constantly berating UB players with personal jabs and coordinated multiple “UB sucks” chants.

That intensity translated on the court. A shoving match between Segu and Welch broke out with 1:29 remaining and resulted in double technical fouls. Both players had to be separated from each other, and the St. Bonaventure crowd loved every second of it.

The visiting Bulls certainly felt the intensity of the Western New York rivalry.

“We talked about that [the atmosphere] coming in here,” Whitesell said. “We knew that it’s going to be intense, they were going to have a great crowd and [it] was gonna be loud, and you’ve got to play with composure and you’ve got to play tough.

That’s part of this series. I think it makes you better when you play people like this in these high-intensity games.”

The Bonnies survived Saturday night’s

Courtesy of Mike Dziak Senior guard Ronaldo Segu (10) goes up for a shot during UB’s 68-65 loss to St. Bonaventure at the Reilly Center Saturday.

contest without star guard Kyle Lofton, who was sidelined with an ankle injury.

The late-game heroics by Williams, Segu and Jack allowed UB to claw its way back into the game, but Adaway’s game-winning three-pointer was indicative of the game itself.

Even though the Bulls hung around and kept the game within striking distance, St. Bonaventure — a team that was ranked as high as 16th nationally before a loss to Northern Iowa last week — proved they were the superior team.

“In these games there’s going to be ebbs and flows. It’s two very good programs.

You’re gonna have those ups and downs and you’ve got to hang in there,” Whitesell said. “I thought our guys did a good job of staying the distance.”

The Bulls return to action against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Wednesday night at E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, KY. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. The game can be streamed on ESPN+.

Email: anthony.decicco@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @DeCicco42 Email: hunter.skoczylas@ubspectrum.com

Sports Gallery

Sai Krishna-Seethala / The Spectrum Members of UB’s swimming and diving team pose for a photo during a recent match against Cornell.

Moaz Elazzazi / The Spectrum Members of the UB women’s volleyball team hold a jersey for their teammate, Monika Simkova, who has a streptococcal bacterial infection.

Sai Krishna-Seethala / The Spectrum Redshirt fifth-year senior Summer Hemphill talks to the media at a press conference before the season.

Moaz Elazzazi / The Spectrum Junior running back Ron Cook Jr. looks Illinois.

out into the open during a recent game against

Northern

SPORTS

12 | Wednesday, December 8 2021

ubspectrum.com

Women’s Swimming Women’s Basketball

Last week in UB Athletics

Transfer Portal

All-Mac Football

MULTIPLE UB FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND COMMITS ENTER TRANSFER PORTAL

SEVEN BULLS ON ALLMAC FOOTBALL TEAM

Six UB football players have officially entered the transfer portal as of Dec. 7, according to 247Sports.

Notable players who made the jump to the transfer portal include senior defensive end Eric Black, senior linebacker Tim Terry and freshman cornerback Quillen Howze.

Other official entries into the transfer portal include freshman wide receiver Thaliq Battle and freshmen offensive linemen Rowan McGwin and Nolan Gorczyca, according to 247Sports.

The Bulls also lost commitments from multiple high-profile high school recruits, including quarterback Mekhi Lynn and safety Websley Etienne — both three-star recruits.

While UB head coach Maurice Linguist is a proven recruiter, the Bulls’ poor 2021 display is forcing current players and high school commits to reevaluate their future at UB. Linguist must find a way to reload with a strong 2022 signing class and compensate for the players and commits he’s lost.

ANTHONY DECICCO

SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

December kicked off with seven UB football players earning their place on the All Mid-American Conference football team.

Senior linebacker James Patterson was named first-team All-MAC for the second season in a row. He ranked second in the MAC with a career-best 116 tackles and also racked up a teamhigh 13 tackles for loss.

Redshirt fifth-year offensive lineman Jake Fuzak was also a secondteam All-MAC selection for the second straight season. He helped his unit rank fourth in the MAC in rushing offense with a game average of 195.5 yards in 2021.

Junior defensive tackle Daymond Williams was the second of two Bulls to earn All-MAC second team honors.

In addition, junior running back Dylan McDuffie, graduate wide receiver Quian Williams, fifth-year redshirt offensive lineman Jack Klenk and junior running back Ron Cook Jr. — who was selected for his special teams contributions as a kick returner — all received third-team All-MAC honors.

SOPHIE MCNALLY

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

SWIMMING AND DIVING FINISHES THIRD AT THE ZIPPY INVITE Women’s swimming and diving (2-0, 2-0 MAC) earned third place out of 10 teams at the Zippy Invite in Akron, OH this weekend. The Bulls totalled 1,355 points over the course of the three-day meet. Penn and Akron edged UB for first place.

The Bulls dominated the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:29.82, thanks to the efforts of grad student Jillian Lawton, junior Elinor Duley, senior Toni Naccarella and freshman Sawyer Bosley. This performance was the second-fastest time in program history.

On the second day of the competition, the Bulls claimed third in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:39.11.

The Bulls ended the meet on a high note, as they won the last event of the 400 freestyle relay with Lawton, Duley, Bosley and Naccarella swimming a time of 3:16.95, which broke the program and meet record.

Sophomore Victoria Franz made light work of the competition in the 1-meter dive on the first day of competition, as she easily captured the gold with 295.40 points, a whopping 30 points ahead of second place.

The Bulls will face Duquesne University at the Alumni Arena pool on Saturday, Jan. 8. Until then, the team will travel to a training camp in Fort Lauderdale, FL. from Dec. 30 to Jan. 5.

LILY MEEK STAFF WRITER

BULLS DEFEAT RHODE ISLAND 69-55 Women’s basketball (5-2) defeated the Rhode Island Rams (7-3), 69-55, Sunday afternoon at Alumni Arena.

The Bulls held on to the lead the entire game and never gave the Rams hope for a comeback. A balanced scoring attack propelled UB to its fourth straight victory as four players scored in double digits.

Redshirt fifth year forward Summer Hemphill, who was presented with a ceremonial game ball to celebrate her 1,000th career point, was inseparable from the net. Hemphill was 2-for-3 on three-pointers and 9-for-16 from the field as she posted 20 points while also aiding the defense with six boards, one block and two steals.

The Bulls led 41-29 after the first half thanks to an impressive 9-for-15 shooting performance from behind the arc.

A 6-0 run by UB with 2:07 left in the third quarter allowed the Bulls to take a 54-38 lead –– their largest of the night. Strong defense held the Rams to just one field goal in the final minutes of the third as the Bulls clutched a 57-41 lead heading into the last quarter.

UB will look to extend its winning streak against Virginia Commonwealth University, the defending Atlantic-10 Conference Champions, on Wednesday at Alumni Arena. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.

KAYLA STERNER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Who shines brightest? The top 5 athletes at UB A look at the most talented and decorated athletes at the Queen City school HUNTER SKOCZYLAS SPORTS EDITOR

Dyaisha Fair

Junior guard, women’s basketball

Dyaisha Fair made an immediate impact as a freshman for the women’s basketball team. She averaged 22 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game and landed in the top-10 in nine statistical categories on UB’s single-season record list. Fair was named Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and was honored as MAC East Player of the Week four times during her rookie campaign.

The 5-foot-5 guard followed up her record-breaking freshman season with an even more dominant sophomore campaign. Fair’s numbers improved to 24.1 points, six rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.9 steals per game. She became the fastest player in program history and 14th fastest in Division I women’s basketball history to score 1,000 career points, doing so in just 44 career games. Fair ranked sixth in the nation in scoring, recorded the program’s first triple-double in nearly two decades and earned first-team All-MAC and firstteam All-Defensive Team honors.

Jeenathan Williams

Senior forward, men’s basketball

Unlike Fair, it took Jeenathan Williams some time to grow into a dominant player.

He came off the bench for all 36 games of his freshman campaign in 2018, averaging 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.

The Rochester native found his way into the starting lineup the next two years, and has steadily improved each season. Williams was named second-team All-MAC as a junior, leading the Bulls in scoring with 17.6 points per game, including an impressive 26 points in the 2020 MAC Semifinals.

Williams and the Bulls have gotten off to a 4-3 start in the 2021-22 season, with

the star forward leading the team with 19.4 points per game. The Bulls have had some rough endings to games, losing two-ofthree contests by less than three points, but once conference play begins, Williams will look to lead the way and close out his senior campaign with a MAC title.

Marcy Barberic

Graduate midfielder, women’s soccer

The Grand Island native made an immediate impact upon her arrival at UB, earning All-Freshman Team honors. She built off strong freshman and sophomore campaigns with a dominant junior season, leading the Bulls in goals (six), points (15) and shots (62) and going a perfect 4-for4 on penalty kicks. Barberic was named second-team All-MAC and third-team AllMidwest Region honors for her strong efforts.

During the 2020-21 season, Barberic posted the best and most impressive season of her collegiate career. In a shortened season due to COVID-19, she led the Bulls with nine goals and one assist on 39 shots. Her impressive statistics weren’t just team-based, as she led the nation in shots on goal per game (2.88) while also leading the MAC and ranking third in the nation in goals per game (1.2) and second in shots per game (4.88). She was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year and earned United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region First Team honors.

The women’s soccer team ended the 2021-22 season with a 13-4-3 record, falling in the MAC Semifinals to Bowling Green. Barberic — now a graduate student — led the way with 10 goals and five assists along with 63 shots.

Rochester, where she set school records in 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay and 400 medley relay. She also won the state title in the 50 freestyle event, the same event she participates in now for UB. She won her first gold medal with UB in the 50 freestyle at the MAC Championships as well silver medals in four other races, which earned her first-team AllMAC honors during her sophomore season. In the 2020-21 campaign, when the swimming and diving team won its first ever MAC championship, Naccarella led the way by securing seven gold medals. On top of her impressive medal count, she was the first UB swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships. She currently holds two school records — the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay — and is leading the way for the team to potentially win another championship in her senior season.

Anna Aguon

Graduate utility player, women’s softball

It’s not easy to be successful in an outdoor sport when the team is based in Buf-

falo, but Anna Aguon has proven it’s possible. The Vancouver, WA native made an immediate impact in 2018 when she was named first-team All-MAC and added to the All-Freshman Team, posting a .359 batting average to go along with seven home runs and 36 runs. Aguon has missed just one game over four years of her collegiate career and has consistently been a home run hitter. She’s been named first team All-MAC every season she’s been eligible.

The 2020-21 season was the most dominant of her career, as she earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Mideast Region First Team honors after recording a .392 batting average to go with a teamhigh 60 hits, 14 home runs and 42 runs scored. Her 60 hits and 14 home runs rank second on the program’s single-season records list. The dominant home run hitter is returning to the team this season as a graduate student and will look to capture her fourth straight All-MAC first team honor in just five years with the program.

Email: hunter.skoczylas@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @HunterSkoczylas

Toni Naccarella

Senior freestyle swimmer, women’s swimming and diving

The UB swimming program had been a consistent contender in the past, but when Toni Naccarella joined the team in 2018, the Bulls’ freestyle relay race numbers saw a major jump. Prior to coming to UB, Naccarella swam for Penfield High School in

Alexis Heng / The Spectrum Graduate student midfielder/forward Marcy Barberic (11) became the first player in program history to earn second-team All-American honors